33/40 Shooting

[Grabenkater]

I finally got around to taking my 33/40 out to the range for some shooting on a Sunday afternoon. Being a long time shooter, I knew what to expect from 7.92 mm ammunition.

I shot both 75 meter and 100 meter targets. At 75 meters I was able to keep all 5 rounds within a 12 cm circle, at 100 meters that circle began to open up to around 20cm. I was shooting off hand while standing. Considering I was shooting 70 + year old surplus ammunition, I was rather impressed.

I have some nice little love bites on my shoulder from firing 60 rounds

[barnaclebill]

Sounds like fun, lucky guy for even owning one.

Is the recoil like they say?

[Heeresbergführer]

The G33/40 kicks like Mule!

[Grabenkater]

The G33/40 kicks like Mule!

Yes, it kicks like a mule! It was fun to see my friends wife shoot it and actually do very well.

[barnaclebill]

Thought so
I have some military 1940s 7.92 and that is much hotter than the civvie ammo you can buy these days. That kicks massively in a K98 so what it would be like in a GEW33/40 I cannot imagine! The bullets weight in at 208 grains IIRC compared to 174 in a .303 Mk7.

[Ewald Koch]

Yes, 33/40 is an interesting weapon, we had a possibility to test-fire it some time ago, both with 1940's and modern rounds. Kick was impressive and muzzle flash - if possible - even more impressive. Size and length of the gun were nice, but I still prefer an 98k to 33/40, due to health reasons ie pain in shoulder!

[Grabenkater]

I like my K-98, but the 33/40 is more handy for use in the forest and in the mountains for my tastes.

Commercial 7.92 (8mm) is most definately loaded to lower standards than the surplus ammunition. The hottest surplus I have encountered is the 1930's Turkish ammo.

[42gunner]

Load your own 8mil and you'll see the groups shrink by 50%+
At 2350fps, it has potential for a very good hunting round, if you chart the bullet drop and wind deflection out to 300yds.
Bullet drop rarely matches with the markings on the rear sight.
One of my old 98k rifles could manage 3in MOA but at 100yds the rear sight elevation was already at 200M.

[Hans Kurtz]

We in New Zealand have these beauties for sale quite often, mainly through auctions.
After the war 1,000 were brought in by sports suppliers for sale to the 'cheap gun' market...for deer hunting, along with the VZ33's. It is rare to find one with matching numbers.Values here now are around $2,500Kiwi!
These two samples in my collection...and there they will stay....they come out for display and take part in reenactments at airshows......